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Reviews

Soaring peaks, majestic glaciers, mountain-top monasteries. Oxford has its fair share of mountain wilderness but I thought I was missing something. So I headed over to Yeti, a Nepalese restaurant on Cowley Road with a strong reputation as an Oxford institution.

After being greeted warmly by the waiter, we sat down and were greeted by the chef. Something of an Oxford legend, she invites customers into her restaurant like a home, taking the time to make sure they are happy and fill them in on her day. We kicked off the food with the standard papadums and selection of dips, with a fantastic tamarind sauce before our starters of Chili Paneer and some Vegetable Momos, both very reasonably priced at £3-£4. If you haven’t had paneer before, you should try it; always mistakenly translated as cottage cheese, it is closer to halloumi in consistency and makes a great meat alternative. In my dish it was deliciously basted in a rich and multi-faceted curry with several levels of flavour. First was a fruity sweetness from the onions, followed by a heatwave that did not overwhelm the taste or excessively burn in my mouth, but did cause some eyewatering, despite the waiter’s warning. Momo is the Nepalese word for dumpling and they are largely similar to dimsum, filled with a wide range of fresh veg blended with traditional Nepalese spices. As for the exact recipe, the chef wouldn’t tell us, so you’ll have to go and try them yourselves.

For the mains my vegetarian dining companion was spoilt for choice, as can be expected from Nepalese cuisine. The answer, of course, was the Vegetable Thali, only available Sunday to Thursday presumably due to the amount of preparation involved. Thali (the name of the dish it is served on) is a traditional Nepalese and Indian dish that encompasses all the taste groups: sweet, salt, bitter, sour, astringent and spicy. Yeti’s thali features a central vegetable curry, well-balanced and spiced with a range of veg, surrounded by rice, dall (or dhal), greens and a bowl of achaar (spiced chutney), all on a handy tray. The achaar was particularly notable, fulfilling the sweet category with some great extra flavours.

Keen for meat, I went for Masu Gedagudi, a curry of tender lamb with a selection of extra beans and bits thrown into the mix. Advised to combine it with pilau rice and some chilli and garlic naan it was fruity and fragrant, full of coriander and ginger, a markedly different style to most Indian curries. My main was slightly below £10 while the thali, almost the most expensive dish on the menu, was around £12. After finishing up with some mango lassi we both agreed that the meal had greatly exceeded a normal curry, offering much more in terms of flavour and gastronomic experience for very good prices.

Every meal should involve a mystery, just for the excitement if nothing more. Our meal at Yeti perplexed us with a certain flavour in both the Chili Paneer and the Khasi Jhol [sic] that we just couldn’t place. Was it pineapple? Cranberry? “Oh no,” the waiter told us, “we don’t use fruit.” The chef emerged from the kitchen again and after an intense discussion showed us a bowl of tiny seeds. These were ajwain (or ajowan), and after tasting the seeds by themselves – even while gustatorily blinded by curry - we decreed them a magic spice. Similar to thyme or oregano with hints of cumin, they are a great addition to curries and definitely something I’m going to try at home.

While the food is excellent and the ambience lovely (I can’t get enough of Nepalese traditional music), Yeti really wins out on the service. It is very rare for restaurant staff to go out of their way to welcome customers so heartily, with attentive and fun service from even the chef. Not many eateries will allow you to try raw ingredients or explain their recipes in so much detail, but this enhances the experience by so much. While other restaurants should be taking tips from Yeti, you should be eating there. That’s it.

Dave Decides: “You know what they say about big feet, they guarantee good curry.”

We visited Yeti for dinner last week. Exceptionally warm and welcoming service. The waiting staff were very helpful and the chef also personally came out to ask how our food was. Best service I have had in Oxford recently.

Ambience is good - nice, simple decor in the restaurant.

There was a good variety of dishes on the menu and something to suit all tastes - ranging from specialist Nepalese dishes to the more-often encountered Indian signature dishes. Food was nicely presented and tasted great - definitely authentic! The chef was also very willing to alter the dishes to suit our individual tastes and dietary requirements.

Yeti has excellent value for money – food was very reasonably priced and portion size was good.

I will certainly be returning to Yeti and I highly recommend this place.

Visited Yeti for the first time this evening. Fantastic.

I think Gem may have the wrong place in mind. Tables are not long or cramped which makes me think maybe there is a confusion. Service wonderful. Food refreshingly good, with no skimping on the quantity of MEAT (which I find to be so common). Would strongly recommend.

swifty13 Jan 2014

The last review mentioned bring your own and free corkage! Too good to be true and on the internet?

When we asked last night about this the waiter was very polite and explained they are a licenced premises.
We didn't order starters and it was late and busy when we arrived so they gave us a momo each to try.
The food and service is excellent.

Night Drive8 Dec 2013

Surprised to read all the positive reviews on here considering how awful my own group's experience was. Food felt like it took hours to arrive. The cuisine was just typical Indian curry with less flavour than usual and not worth the exorbitant 14.99 per head (main course + appetizers only). The naan bread was quite good though. Staff kept trying to sell us way too much wine after we declined several times. Tables were long, squeezed together and impossible to move from - not conducive to a large group gathering at all! We had the fixed menu - I highly recommend against arranging this.

Gem1 Dec 2013

Well what do I say ..... I have walked past several times and ignored the beckoning modern interior for other restaurants in the Cowley Road.

Refreshing and very personal service and very friendly.

The Food. Perhaps one of the most enjoyable and unusual meals I have had in a long time. The rice chicken was stunning, and the noodles were interesting. The three main dishes we chose were well-cooked and well-presented, there were some textures and flavours that I really enjoyed.

I also appreciated being able to take my own wine without a corkage charge. But a full bar with extensive wine list was available.

The bill was very reasonable, and we will be back soon for another tasting.

Chef Henri1 Feb 2013

The cooking is inspired and the lovely couple that own Yeti are hospitable, generous and friendly. This is a restaurant which is really worth walking that little further along the Cowley Road, past the main groups of restaurants (it is after the junction with Divinity Road). Although the lovely lady owner was doing the cooking, she popped out of the kitchen regularly to chat to us. Yeti does not feel like an impersonal restaurant, more like eating at a family celebration.

The menu is full of interesting traditional dishes from Nepal. For starters we had lamb momos, steamed dumplings stuffed with minced lamb, and served with home-made Achaar (chutney) and deep-fried mushrooms stuffed with marinated paneer - both were light, spicy, tasty, beautifully cooked. For the main course, we had lamb Khasi Jhol, lamb cooked in a traditional Nepalese style, and Jhane Ko king prawn. Side dishes of pilau rice and stir fried spinach with garlic and chilis were perfect, as were the complimentary dish of delicious dahl and the plain paratha. We couldn't stay for the drinks offered on the house but the owner insisted on giving us a bottle of Nepalese beer to take home!

Although Yeti has Indian dishes on its menu too, it is the Nepalese specialities which are its strong point and I am looking forward to trying some more of them. Even if you don't live in east Oxford, it's certainly worth making a special trip.

Cannot praise this place enough. Been there lots and lots of times, always friendly, food is amazing, even when you order things that aren't even on the menu (for me it's always the mussels!) It's never a problem! Seriously cannot rate this place highly enough, it is what hospitality is all about! The owners really cannot do enough for you and it seems to be getting busier and busier which is a credit to them. Why can't more restaurants be like this? Plus the new waiter they have employed is really good, a bit on the quiet side but very attentive and smiley, I really wish there were more restaurants like this! We will be back soon!

Max and Lauren29 Jul 2012

Just to add to the chorus....I cannot praise this place enough. The food is delicious, including great options for vegetarians, and the owners are lovely. Had a hen do dinner here last pm and they really went above and beyond!

Noe13 Jun 2012

Went there with a group of friends and had a great time. The food was delicious. Have requested for Chicken Momos to be included in the menu. Hope that happens by the time I visit next.

imemyself12 Apr 2012

Went to Yeti for a birthday celebration with 16 of us - food was excellent and the service was wonderful - so friendly and welcoming. Highly recommended.

Anna1 Apr 2012

Excellent food, plenty of choice both Indian and traditional dishes, and above all fantastic service, can't wait to go back

I have taken numerous people to Yeti Restaurant - friends, family and colleagues...and I have never been disappointed! Not only do I recommend the place for its great food but also for the hospitality!

My friend (vegetarian) and I have been to Yeti several times over the past 6 months and have never once have been disappointed. The Nepalese side of the menu is fantastic in both its range and quality; I must particularly recommend the Rim Jim Duck. Having said that, we both agree that this is the best place in Oxford if you're after classic Indian cuisine. Between us we've lived in Oxford for an average of 8 years and have seen the good (and not-so-good!) Indian restaurants come and go, but Yeti really can hold its own when it comes to Indian food as its attention to detail and quality of ingredients used are palpable.

The atmosphere of the restaurant is relaxed and the staff (particularly the lady of the house) helpful and friendly.

We look forward to coming here for years to come.

Micaela28 Feb 2012

Another delightful evening at Yeti on Valentine's Day. My wife and I had the special set meal which was absolutely delicious and full of flavour. The atmosphere was warm and friendly with a touch of romance from Kabita with her sparkly hearts and lights. Although the food is amazing, the best thing about Yeti is the welcome we always receive from the hosts - they can't do enough to make us feel valued and special and we're beginning to feel like old friends. If you haven't been to Yeti yet, give it a go - you won't be disappointed.

Bit of a revelation, actually. Staff were friendly and polite, and the food - really warm, subtle, and complex flavours; utterly delicious.

I could feel the very faint fleshiness of the aubergines, and the lentils were cooked to perfection. It made me realise that I'd come to think of curry as a paste of burnt ingredients. Somebody in Yeti's kitchen knows what they're doing, does it well, and cares about it very deeply.

My girlfriend had the butter chicken, which is usually a simple, dull dish - at Yeti, it was sophisticated to the point of gentility. It had a monocle and all.

Highly recommended, we will definitely be coming back.

James14 Feb 2012

We've eaten at Yeti's twice now and had a few takeaways. The food is excellent. Freshly cooked, good quality ingredients and no sign of the gloopy sauces that are used too often in Indian restaurants. The flavours and spices are delicious. There is an unusual range of dishes, and lots of alternatives to the usual suspects. Even the nan bread is much thinner and tastier than usual. The takeaways are the same standard as the food served in the restaurant, which is a real treat. The staff are very friendly and attentive. An excellent addition to the Cowley Road.

sarasiobhan8 Jan 2012

My husband and I went to this wonderful restaurant a couple of weeks ago and thoroughly enjoyed our evening. The food was delicious and the ambience friendly and welcoming. The owners were a lovely couple who seemed really interested in us and our forthcoming trip to Nepal, going out of their way to recommend places to visit and foods to try. We were really impressed with Yeti and plan to go again with more of our family members in the very near future. Highly recommended and a great addition to the Cowley Road.

Excellent menu and lovely environment where polite and pleasing individuals are always giving their best to maintain their outstanding service. Congratulation bringing this excellent Nepalese menu in Cowley Road..

This is a brilliant find on the Cowley Road. Delicious food, especially the curried potato! the staff are great too, extremely helpful and welcoming. We will definitely be coming back so long as there's a table free Thankyou Yeti!

Rufus12 Nov 2011

I decided to give this a restaurant a whirl after too many visits to the same old places. Both my friend and I were extremely impressed with the quality of the food and the friendliness of the staff. I had a vegetarian Karaih (spelling?!?!) which came in a lovely sizzling dish (as it's supposed to, according to my freind who has visited Nepal). We then had a nice natter with the female owner of the restaurant and she kindly gave us a drink on the house to round off a thoroughly enjoyable eveing. Will defintely be coming back and introducing this place to more of my friends! :)

Liz11 Nov 2011

Influenced by these positive reviews my wife and I went here last Friday night and we were not disappointed. It was busy but the staff were friendly and attentive at all times and the service was excellent. All our dishes were really tasty - momos & kukhura chokta to start and a chicken & a lamb dish from the chef's specials list which had lots of well-balanced spicy flavour. We'll definitely go back and wish the family well - the lady of the house has a nice line in humour. By the way, further to the recent review, I think it's perfectly reasonable for them to recommend one of their local specialities as an alternative to the generic chicken tikka.

Pete11 Nov 2011

My veggie friend and I decided to give the Yeti a try last night and we weren't disappointed. There is something for everyone here all at a very reasonable price. The lady of the house was very hospitable and the staff were friendly and courteous. The food was excellent, well spiced, just the right amount of heat and unlike other curries I've had in Oxford it wasn't swimming in ghee. My friend's vegetable dishes were excellent also. All in all a very nice evening! Keep up the good work.

11 Nov 2011

This is a response to Dani's review dated 08/11/2011, from the Yeti management team.

On 5th Oct 2011 after the fireworks finished in South Parks, we were packed in about 20 minutes time. It was a very very busy evening.

That evening the customer (Dani) said he had just one Gurkha Beer, so we immediately took the money off from his bill and sincerely apologized. We are still very new and learning from our mistakes. That was silly human error.

We suggested the customer might enjoy a Nepalese dish (Nariwal Kukhura), which is £1 more than chicken korma and is very popular amongst the people who love mild curry.

We again apologize to Dani & family for that evening's mistake and request they give us another opportunity to serve them.

Yeti Team10 Nov 2011

The other evening I was choosing between an Indian restaurant on Cowley Road and this one - chose Yeti because their lighting was not as strong as at the Indian place - I really didn't want to be sitting in the shopping window.

Things to look out for were (not unexpected though):- a waiter who could hardly speak English, bringing the wrong drink even after pointing it out on the menu for him - otherwise very polite and hardworking- whatever we picked from the menu the lady of the house suggested a more expensive alternative- the bill was £4.50 overcharged on drink - stated as 'drinks' only, when confronted they took it off immediately though, but couldn't help feeling a bit uncomfortable.

Otherwise: nice food (we had lots of their dumplings), cordial and polite staff.

Just really impressed overall....epic food! We love our food and Yeti did not disappoint. Subtle flavours and really well put together dishes with some real Nepalese flair. Also I havent had Ghurka Beer since sipping a bottle in Chitwan National Park. Extremely fond of this restaurant and the Nepalese Hospitality really shines through. In my opinion, one of the best restaurants in Oxford....give it a try! In fact...I think we'll book a table for tonight!!

maxybarber7 Nov 2011

Excellent food, excellent atmosphere and excellent service. Went in as the place looked new and interesting. I was amazed at the levels of service and the friendly atmosphere of the chefs and waiters who ran it. Each dish was delicious and uniquely flavoured with rich and creamy sauces. I'll definitely be returning!

Radio Frequency31 Oct 2011

Just back from dining at Yeti this evening, and I am impressed. Nepalese food has influences from China and India, but a character of its own, and so this place provides something different for jaded palates. The Momo starter was tasty, and had just the right amount of heat to it, and the curry I had for main had more flavour, texture and colour than the standard meat-chunks-in-a-sauce that characterises curries elsewhere. Special praise, though, has to go to the Oxford Aloo - one of the only potato side dishes I've had in this type of cuisine where the potato contributes something to the taste, and is not just a substratum for the spices. It was also nice to see the lack of oil collecting at the bottom, and made me feel a bit better about stepping off my diet! Service was excellent; friendly and attentive. I arrived late in the evening, but did not feel in the least bit rushed. With my bill I was presented with a delightful plate of hand-made traditional sweets, and was even given some for the road. All in all, a great entry to the upper tier of Cowley Road dining - if you live further afield, it is well worth a trip!

Nick26 Oct 2011

Amazing service and great food, reminds me of the curries I had in Utterkahand this summer, wonderful. And I will most definitely order again.

wendy23 Oct 2011

Highly recommended. Great menu and lovely owners. The dishes we ordered were unique to anything else we have had in Oxford. Yeti Nepalese is a welcome addition to the wide range of restaurants in Cowley.

Very good food and lovely owners. A nice change from the generic Chicken Tikka Massala you can get in the numerous Indian restaurants around Oxford. If you are after some seriously good and authentic food - pay this establishment a visit.

foodieAtHeart10 Oct 2011

I am very glad this wonderful restaurant has recently opened on Cowley! I chose a vegetarian dish (No. 51, sorry I forgot the name) that is apparetly typical Napalase and with lots of different beans. It was amazingly delicious!!! Spices were so perfectly balanced. Basmati rice was beautiful as well. I tried soup of the day, which was just gorgeous too. I felt my body needed those food, and I can't remember the last time I felt that good.

The service was very warm and friendly, almost like a family atmosphere. I could tell they're trying their best. It was a weekend dinner time while they were busy, so we needed to wait a bit long (probably 15-20 mins?) but then, the food was so great that we forgot about it straight away! Reasonably priced as well, I'll definetely go back there soon!

Lily8 Oct 2011

The food was amazing! From the get go it was all good. The iced tap water tasted fresh and lemony, the house Italian red wine was very good and the popadoms and pickles were excellent. Then the main course: I had the lamb marinated in cumin and coriander cooked Nepalese style. The lamb was very tender and it tasted delicious. But the vegetables were to die for.

The only time I can ever remember having vegetables in a restaurant of this type, or indeed of many other types, cooked to perfection. Two vegetables, broccoli and spinach, both very easily overdone, were cooked to perfection in their sauces and spices and all the other sides we had were also amazing. The service was excellent, very friendly and welcome and knowledgable. If you are looking for some fantastic food for your night out, you should definately try this place out.

My friend and I dined here a week or so after the restaurant had opened and the food served was absolutely delightful. The dish that I ate, Yeti Ko Bahar, was absolutely perfect; tender, exquisitely marinated lamb with sides of rice and mixed vegetables. The portions themselves are also rather generous, and the chef is clearly a very skilled craftsman with the finest ingredients available to him as the dishes are oozing with wonderful flavour yet not drenched in a horrible grease like the vast majority of other establishments on Cowley Road. You will also find the experience of the service from the owners themselves to be first rate, undeniably one of, if not the best I've had whilst living in Oxford. The atmosphere is very relaxing too and that combined with the brilliant food makes for an altogether enjoyable experience. There is also a wide choice of dishes available which make it almost impossible for your tastes not to be catered for. Give it a try at least the once and you'll find it hard to be disappointed.

Matthew24 Sep 2011

This is a great new restaurant on the Cowley Road, and on a road with so many, this one really stands out. The menu is refreshingly different, with some similarities to Indian food but more subtle. There are some interesting combinations of flavours, like chicken with pear. The food is very fresh, flavoursome and has a home cooked feel to it. The ambience is warm and friendly, and the service attentive. I will definitely be back to explore the menu. And next time I go I will try the Gurkha beer.

daveonthecowleyroad23 Sep 2011

My friends and I saw that this restaurant had only just opened and thought we would try some Nepalese food. The food was great! they have a range of nepalese dishes as well as classic indian favourites for those who aren't as adventurous. I really enjoyed the momo starter and the nepalese dishes we had were full of flavour and the meat was tender. Also the staff were really welcoming and friendly, I really recommend giving this place a go, we will definitely be going back there!

L23 Sep 2011

My partner and i thought we would give it a try as its just opened and on Cowley Road where we love eating out. It was nice to see different sorts of food compared to the bog standard Indian cuisine. Our food was absolutely amazing, full of flavour and the meat was tender and really tasty. Oxford Aloo as a side dish was delicious! Service was great as well - we had the owner serving us and she was lovely and helpful throughout the evening. A nice family run business which we hope succeeds. Cant wait to go back next week!! Definitely give it a try - you will not be disappointed!

Em and Steve20 Sep 2011

We absolutely love the food. Traditional Nepalese food and nicely presented. Each dish tasted unique, being prepared to an individual recipe and not relying on a generic base sauce. The starters were lovely: we really enjoyed Duck Choyela, MoMo and Sadeko Chicken. All were very lightly spiced and noticable in terms of the quality of their ingredients. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who enjoys good food and great service.

MOMO's18 Sep 2011

Great food - full of flavour, fresh and delicious. The king prawns I had were HUGE, beautifully cooked and full of flavour. There are some really interesting Nepalese dishes alongside some well known Indian favourites. Some really unique flavours clearly made with quality ingredients. The staff were lovely and very attentive. I went with my partner who also had a delicious chicken dish. We will definitely be returning!